LOST IN BUSH

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1935, Page 6

LOST IN BUSH

OLD MAN’S INTENSE SUFFERING SYDNEY, July 7. Blue with cold, without food for two days, and with the skin worn from his feet, which were dripping blood, Rouert Robertson, 71 years of age, was found after a search of the Orance district lasting 53 hours. He had wandered 15 miles without boots through snow-cov-ered country, and had slept in tire open during two of the coldest nights known for many years. When found he was still seeking a gold mine that he had known in his youth, and insisting that he knew where to find it.

Constables Goodwin and Porto, who rescued Mr Robertson from a mountain valley, wrapped him and placed him in front of a fire, then fed him with hot scones and coffee. When found he was wearing trousers, shirt, sweater coat, cap and spectacles, but he had taken off his hots when lie lay down to -slebp one night, and. must have, forgotten '-them. His.,clothes were badly torn, and- dirty. Air Robertson, who had been cutting wood with his son-in-law,. Mr Frank Ewin, of Vittoria, went into the bush again to’ look for his coat, which he had forgotten to put on. When he did not return, a search was organised, in which more than 70 people joined. He was seen three times by two men who thought he was a “hobo” and did not report the fact. He was noticed on Suma Park, about four miles from Orance, by Mr Stanford, the owner of the property. Later Mr Stanford heard that a man was missing, and telephoned to Air T. J. ATartin, who owns an adjoining property. Air Martin communicated with the police, who climbed a hill without seeing any sign of the missing: man. They discovered him later in one of the valleys. Air Robertson had lost £3 in notes and some silver from his pockets as well as his pipe. The thermometer dropped to 17 degrees on one of the night that Air •Robertson spent in the open, and to 22 degrees oil the other, Light snow still covered the country when he was found,